Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
Turkmenistan is all prepared to host 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held in its capital city Ashgabat during September 17-27 2017. 50 days to go for this international event. Turkmenistan is the first central Asian country to host this international event. President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and people of Turkmenistan are more than eager to witness this international event.
Inspiring Ashgabat 2017
The 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games will be held in Ashgabat, the pearl of Asia. Turkmenistan is well known of its eternal love of sports and sportsmanship in the world. The motto chosen for the Games in three languages: “Sagdynlyk. Ruhubelentlik. Dostluk.” ™, “Health. Inspiration. Friendship.” (Eng), “Здоровье. Воодушевление. Дружба.”(гиз). It aims to reflect the inner feelings of the Turkmen people, their peacefulness, their devotion to sports and their love for their independent and neutral fatherland.
Sports-loving President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov
Final preparation is in full swing. Most recently, President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has personally inspected the city’s infrastructure development, the ongoing improvement efforts and preparations in Ashgabat for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
Ashgabat, “the pearl of Asia”
5th AIMAG will be staged in the white-marbled city of Ashgabat, “the pearl of Asia”, in 2017. A great number of valuable guests from 62 countries (it has now reached to 64 with inclusion of Tahiti and New Caledonia) including 45 Asian and 19 Pacific countries will be received. It expects 5 thousand athletes from 21 kinds of sport, 2,500 coaches, more than 10,000 foreign guests, more than 1,500 technical staff members and over 10,000 volunteers. Approximately 150,000-200,000 sport fans are expected to arrive in Ashgabat in September 2017.
Opening & Closing Ceremonies
Opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be held at the open air stadium with the capacity of 45,000 spectators. For the sake of transportation convenience on the vast territory, a monorail way will connect Olympic Village for 12 thousand “residents” with other venues of Olympic Park.
Operational Readiness
During his visit the directed special attention to the operational readiness of the multi-purpose Olympic Park that boasts everything necessary to organize and hold high-level competitions including track-and-field, cycling, tennis, swimming, team sports and wrestling events and others), and specially-equipped training halls.
Highest Facilitations
To facilitate the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games participant’s athletes, coaches, members of delegations, and mass media representatives an excellent 12,000-capacity Olympic residential complex has been completed. Its high-rise buildings, their exterior and interior design and excellent amenities are the state of the art and meet standards for modern urban housing. The residential area consists of 20 twelve-story buildings grouped together. All of them are easily accessible for disabled people.
Sports-Loving Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is famous for its sports and sportsmanship and the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games will contribute greatly to the growth of international sports. It is hoped that prestige of Turkmenistan will also be increased. It will bring unique knowledge, skills and experiences, as well as encouraging the development of patriotic feelings and engaging young generations in sports and volunteer movements.
Olympic Park Infrastructure
Moreover, the Olympic Park infrastructure is also ready. It consists of a state-of-the-art medical complex with a rehabilitation center, a research laboratory, a training center, a high-tech international media center, and other facilities. The Complex’s cultural center also has a recreational and leisure amenity for athletes.
Monorail Track: A Value Addition
The monorail track is a value addition for the Olympic Park and of course 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. It has a number of originally designed stations runs through the big part of the Olympic Park. It is built above the surface which offers spectacular views of the large sports complex, and Ashgabat. Its many new buildings is thriving and growing more and more beautiful every year.
Importance of Asian Games
Previously, the President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined that the Asian Games would provide all necessary conditions for the citizens of Turkmenistan to practice physical culture and sports, bring up physically strong younger generation and train high-class athletes.
Main Stadium
President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has also visited the Olympic Park’s main venue, a 45,000-seat stadium and emphasized on its facilities and operational readiness for the flame & lighting ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The flame will be lit above the Olympic Stadium in an originally designed cauldron on September 17.
The stadiums to be used for the 2017 AIMAG include a velodrome, aquatics centre, 15,000 capacity main indoor arena, 45,000-capacity main stadium and a martial arts hall.
Olympic Village
The 5th AIMAG will take place in the Olympic Village, a multi-purpose sports facility which is being constructed in Ashgabat. This complex includes over 30 different facilities, including competition venues, accommodation, transportation and other infrastructures.
Gift Sports Clothing
President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was also briefed about gift sports clothing for guests of honor, who would attend the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The sports clothes have been designed for winter and summer wear with winter outfits made at the Geokdepe Textile Complex and summer outfits at the Ashgabat Fashion House.
Sport Uniforms
President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov also viewed samples of uniform and formal attire which have been improved in accordance with the Turkmen leader’s recommendations. It will be worn by Turkmen athletes at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Women’s and men’s sportswear have been created by the designers from the capital’s Fashion House which is the perfect blend of Turkmen national costume elements and modern fashion trends.
Different Types of Sports Uniforms
The first type of sports clothing for women includes a jacket, a dress, a cap and a pair of trainers, the other kind has the same articles of clothing with a coat used as a substitute for a jacket. Both types of men’s outfits consist of a T-shirt, tracksuit trousers, a cap and footwear with the only difference between them in a jacket and a coat. The sports clothes are made of high-quality domestically produced textile.
Gifts to Guests
Guests will also receive various souvenirs and accessories as gifts leather bags, statuettes of Turkmen alabai puppies and Akhalteke horses, watches with the official logo of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, national bags with traditional embroidery, traditional skull-caps, alaja bands (amulets), cuff links, T-shirts with the Game’s mascot, notepads, pens, handsomely illustrated reference books, and others.
Best Sporting Venues
It is hoped that Ashgabat Olympic Complex will not only provide the best sporting venues for a broad range of sports, but also first class spectator facilities and services and a level of Broadcast and Media infrastructure which is unparalleled in the region and possibly the world.
While, inspecting and visiting different facilities and infrastructural projects President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov highlighted the need to implement a well-thought-out and detailed approach to the different issues. The President assigned the relevant senior officials to ensure the Olympic Park’s full readiness for the major sporting event, decorate the capital, organize get-acquainted tours, in particular, helicopter trips for guests, and render excellent services.
Passenger Transport Facilities
The President of Turkmenistan also visited new passenger transport facilities to be used during the 2017 Asian Games. Among them were taxicabs, buses and minivans. The head of state stressed the necessity of making efficient use of monitors the vehicles are equipped with, to make necessary information available to passengers and to show commercials.
After a conversation with drivers, the President of Turkmenistan highlighted that the provision of first-class services to our guests is particularly important in the light of the comprehensive preparation and running of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The head of state instructed the officials concerned to make special efforts in this area.
Participating Nations
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Combodia, China, DPR Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, I.R. Iran, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Games
Chess, Futsal, Tennis, Muaythai, Sambo, Kurash, Jiu Jitsu, Bowling, Cycling (track), Swimming, Indoor Athletics, Weightlifting (Powerlifting), Basketball, Taekwondo (WTF), Dance Sport, Kickboxing, Belt Wrestling, Wrestling (FS/Greco Roman) and Cue Sport (Billiards and Snooker
Ashgabat 2017: A Historic Moment for Turkmenistan
It will be a historic moment for Turkmenistan, as Ashgabat 2017 will be the first major multi-sport event to be hosted in Turkmenistan. The vision after these games will be for the city of Ashgabat and the wider country to host future major sporting events at an international level. Diversified but integrated activities are in full swing throughout the country for the successful hosting of 5th AIMAG. H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is taking keen interest in the preparations of 5th AIMAG.
In 2010, the Olympic Council of Asia, the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan and the administration of Ashgabat city signed an agreement to stage the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in September 2017.
5th Asian Indoor Game’s Superiority
In addition to Asian countries, for the first time in the history of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Oceania was also included in the Games, bringing the participating countries to 64.
The Ashgabat 2017 brand has been created which is based on its traditional design. It represents Turkmenistan’s journey from the past to the future through health, inspiration, friendship along the great Silk Road. Moreover, the Ashgabat 2017 Mascot is based on the Turkmen national animal the Alabai. It is a fun and endearing character who will help to spread the message of the games and welcome people of all ages to Turkmenistan.
Main Concept
The concept of these games is to promote the ideas of peace and humanism in contemporary world and society, the principles of good neighborliness, friendship and brotherhood among people, as well as the unifying and consolidating role of sport.
Media Friendly
Ashgabat Olympic Complex is media friendly and broadcasting from the Ashgabat Olympic Complex has been made easy by the clever design and construction of technical infrastructure. It allows broadcasters to use the facilities at many venues without the need to bring in large broadcast vans, which is the most common method, but to simply plug necessary equipment into the to the permanent circuits in the complex, and, using the integrated production studios, to broadcast live in Turkmenistan or internationally. This is leading edge thinking and technology.
5O Days to Go
With only 50 days to go until the historic Ashgabat 2017 commence in the Turkmenistan capital, excitement is brewing all over the country. Hosting of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts highlights the national policy of Turkmenistan which uses sport as a tool to promote international diplomacy and a healthy lifestyle for society. Sport and the Olympic Movement play a significant role in developing friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between people.
Supreme Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is making every possible effort to ensure that the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be held at the highest level so all participants will enjoy the hospitality and cordiality of the Turkmen land. Sport is an effective and flexible instrument for the promotion of peace and development. The outcome document of the United Nations Summit for the post-2015 development agenda notes that a sport is an important factor for sustainable development. The UN recognizes the significant contribution of sports into peace and development, as it promotes the establishment of the principles of tolerance and respect, promoting the empowerment of women and youth, as well as health, education and social integration.
2017 will be marked for Turkmenistan by a major sporting event V Asian Indoors and Martial Arts Games. On December 19 2010, as a result of the signing in Kuwait of the Memorandum between the OCA and the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat received the right to host V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
Forthcoming in September 2017, the Ashgabat Asian Games will be the largest in a series of Asian games, going beyond the continental competitions: the first time the teams not only in Asia but also from Oceania will attend it. The5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be held at the largest sites of the Olympic Village, which has no analogues in Central Asia. Turkmen president’s song becomes Asian Indoor Games’ anthem.
Golden Saying of President H.E. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov
Love for sport is the love for life. Sport is the source of power, vitality and health. Let our sporting prowess and the accomplishments of Turkmenistan be recognised throughout the sporting world.